The rare Korat is a short-haired cat originating in Thailand. It is strictly forbidden to breed a Korat with any other kind of cat in order to keep the breed pure. The Korat is named after the province of Cao Nguyen Khorat where the breed originated. Centuries ago in the Cat Book of Poems written in Thailand (then Siam), the Korat is described as having "smooth hairs, with tips like clouds and roots like silver, and eyes that shine like dewdrops on a lotus leaf." The first Korats to leave Thailand were taken to the USA at the end of the 19th century. Nowadays the breed is found all over the world but still remains rare, even in Thailand. The correct shade of blue is highly rated at cat shows, The hair is lighter at the roots, darkening along its length; the tip of each hair has a silvery sheen creating a very unusual effect. The adult cats have clear green eyes which may take two to four years to develop from the kitten's amber eyes. A rare cat breed indeed. Source: Encyclopaedia of Cats by Esther J. J. Verhoef - Verhallen  ⓒ 1998